Support for ice rink sought

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 493, 6 July 1993, Page 1

Support for ice rink sought

Ohakune's 'Ice Rink Man', Dennis Beytagh, has gone as far as he can with feasibility studies into the project and now needs more help. That's what he told the Ruapehu District Council, the Waimarino Community Board and the Ruapehu South Business Association in separate meetings last week. Mr Beytagh presented a submission to the RDC last Wednesday, calling for a small levy on each Waimarino ratepayer to "kick start" the next stage of the project - formulating a strategy for forming a company or incorporation to set up the ice rink and to raise the necessary $1.5 to $2 million. However, councillors were reminded that, against the expressed wishes of the various community boards, they had voted against a differential rating system between different wards and that any levy would have to apply throughout the district. Mr Beytagh told councillors his research showed the ice rink would be commercially . viable and very profitable, and that he believed it should remain in local ownership so that local people gained the maximum benefit from it. He said the rink, which would be built

either . next to the Ohakune Club in Goldfinch Street, or on the former caravan site at Rochfort Park would cost about $500,000 per year to operate (employing about 18 staff) and could generate over $3 million in revenue. The rink would be full size, covered, catering for ice hockey, figure and speed skating, curling and also for international ice shows. The covered arena could be converted in about efght hours for other recreational activities such as: rodeos, A&P shows, stock shows, equestrian events, indoor tennis, soccer, cricket, netball, basketball, and concerts. His submission included possible sources of funding for building the rink: • The local business community (who would benefit from increased demand on their services) • Ski and mountain clubs (who would have more reason to use their lodges year-round as well as having the skating available in winter). • Large national, multi-national or overseas company. (Mr Beytagh said this was undesirable as admission prices would disadvantage locals, profits would leave the area and local people would lose control of the facility). Turn to page 2

lce rink needs kick-start

From page 1 • The Council and the community. Mr Beytagh said the last option was preferred as control would remain local and profits could be ploughed back into other community projects such as a covered swimming pool (see below). Options for seeking finance were to create a publicly listed limited liability company, issuing shares, or to form an incorporated society and issue debentures. He said investors would get their money back in two-three years. "Now that the number crunching has been done and these figures have become public, unless we do something about it, someone else will," he told councillors. The council, the community board and the RSBA all agreed the proposal was an excellent one, but no decision was made by council on his submission regarding the levy. Swimming pool Mr Beytagh introduced his submission

with a proposal for a 25m x 10m tepid pool and 10m x 5m hot pool, heated by the waste heat from the ice rink refridgeration plant. The indoor pool facility would be built next to the ice rink and would cost about $300,000. It's potential revenue was up to $576,000 per year, based on 400 swimmers (during the ski season) per day over a 12-hour day, 360 days a year, at $3.00 for children and $5.00 for adults. Mr Beytagh said the present Ohakune pool

was used by 20 families over a period of only 92 days with numbers of swimmers varying from three to 80 each day depending on the weather. It cost the council $19,584 to run the pool in 1992/93. "It is the height of economic and social absurdity to continue to run such a costly operation," he said. That loss could be turned into profit through his proposal. Mr Beytagh quoted the council's annual plan's objectives to "provide a significant contribution towards the recreational

needs of the community through the provision and development of adequate parks, reserves, sports grounds and swimming pools" and to "improve the image of the district as a desirable location for tourism, business and recreational purposes." He said his proposal would see the council meeting these objectives while the present pool, being only used by about 0.02 per cent of Ohakune ratepayers, failed to meet the needs of the wider

community and ratepayers; was operated at a significant cost to ratepayers and failed to attract the tourist potential of such a facility. (Note: The proposed icerink/sports arena/swimming baths project will be on display in the Ohakune Bakehouse car-park at next Saturday's Carrot Fest). The matter was referred back to the Waimarino Community Board for consideration in the 1994-95 Annual Plan.